Chicago Bulls: Projecting the preseason starting five
Chicago Bulls point guard
player. Pick Analysis. Point Guard. Coby White. 24. Scouting Report. Age: 20. 5
The usage of the former seventh overall pick of the Bulls in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White, during the preseason will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow. Donovan and newly hired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas both don’t seem settled on where White fits best in the rotation over the long haul for this rebuild.
The 6-foot-5 and 195 pound 20-year-old White really got hot down the stretch for the Bulls last season. He definitely ended his rookie campaign on a high note, including taking home the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for February.
As a whole, though, the per game averages and overall advanced metrics for White during his rookie season weren’t all that impressive. The hope is that he will take the momentum from the way he finished out last season into the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Moreover, during the shortened 2019-20 regular season, White played in all 65 games for the Bulls (starting in just the final one of them). And he averaged 13.2 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers. White shot 39.4 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.1 percent from the free-throw line.
All of that amounted to a -2.8 box plus/minus rating, -0.4 value over replacement player rating, .026 win shares per 48 minutes, 0.9 total win shares, 50.6 true shooting percentage, and 11.9 player efficiency rating. But a lot of that is bound to improve this season.
White will likely get the keys to the offense this season, and it’s his opportunity to take and run with starting in this four-game preseason slate.